metamorphosis

There’s a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that describes some of the ways he shows his faith — he’s got a T-shirt, a bracelet with letters on it, a necklace & key chain, Bible magnets on his refrigerator, a “bless you” welcome mat, a Jesus bumper sticker, and the outline of a fish on his car. He’s got almost everything a “good Christian needs”, but he’s wondering something we should all wonder — what about the change? What about the difference? What about a life that shows I’m undergoing a change?

Indeed. What about the change? You know — the change the apostle Paul said we should all undergo?

What about the difference? What about a life that shows I’m undergoing a change?

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-2

That word transformed in verse 2 is translated either “transformed” or “changed” in every English-language translation I checked. It is this Greek word that is the root for our English word metamorphosis. It’s the same word translated “transfigured” in Matthew 17:2. Think about the change a caterpillar undergoes in order to become a butterfly. Think about the change Jesus underwent on the mount of transfiguration. That should give you some idea of the visual quality of the change we are to undergo when we become Christians.

No, our face won’t shine like the sun, but the change should be just as visible! We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16), so we should shine brightly enough for those around us to notice.

One more thing about this word. In the Greek, it’s a present tense, imperative, passive verb. It’s you must let yourselves be transformed; it’s not you should think about transforming yourselves if you want to. That means it’s not us effecting the change; someone (rather, Someone) else is the source of the change. It’s not a change that happens in the future — it happens now! And it’s not a suggestion!

So, what about the change? Can you see the change in your life? More importantly, can others see the change (and the reason for the change)?

The writer of Hebrews admonishes disenchanted and/or distracted believers of his day with these words: “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” – 12:2. “Looking unto” means “to look away, as from one thing to see another; then, to concentrate the gaze upon.” That sums up his entire message: do not give your best look to Moses or the Law or anything less than Jesus. He is superior to all and in a class of his own. Regardless of where you are looking, look from that to Him so you may see the glorious Christ for all He is and means.

You may remember the “super blood moon” that took place around January 20 of 2019. It was an exceptional celestial event. Lunar eclipses are not rare but, with this one, the moon was closer to us than normal, making the effect more spectacular. I always try to get Ethan and Cassi in on things of that nature. (Living so close to Lake Greeson is a blessing in such times. No light distortion allows a very clear view at night.)

If/when we can really zero in on Jesus and see Him for all He is, it can be a game-changer.

But in order to see the blood moon, we had to deliberately turn away from typical school and home obligations. We looked away from the usual to concentrate upon the unusual. We took our eyes off the commonplace in order to focus upon the spectacular. And concentration was the key, because the blood moon was a fleeting event. A remarkable and memorable experience, enjoyed only because we chose to look from the routine to the rare.

That is the intention of the Hebrews’ author: to redirect focus in life from the less worthy to the One most worthy. If/when we can really zero in on Jesus and see Him for all He is, it can be a game-changer. If/when I really “look unto” (concentrate upon) Jesus, it will affect how I deal with situations, choices, relationships, myself, values, ups and downs, God, and everything else about life. Along with that, I will more genuinely appreciate all that is good and lovely about a human created in God’s image, who is also being remade into the image of Christ. And, the deeper, richer aspects of life — peace, joy, happiness, love, hope, courage, purity, forgiveness, compassion – will find more room to bear fruit.

When I truly see Him, I will see all else in a different light. That is, if/when I find myself intentionally and consistently “looking unto Jesus.” The super blood moon was a special thing for Ethan and Cassi to witness. I am so glad they did not miss seeing it. I hope you did not miss seeing it. But I really hope you do not miss seeing Jesus.

robert

What about the change?

Jesus and the super blood moon